Transferring fostering agency

We love to hear from experienced foster parents who want to join an agency that truly cares.

Foster parents can only be approved by one fostering agency at a time. But as a foster parent, you can choose to foster through the agency of your own choice. If you would like to transfer your approval to AFA, you will benefit from the high quality support all our foster parents receive, to enable you to provide quality care to the children who come to live with you.

With any transfer, the welfare of the child/children involved must come first.

How transferring fostering agency works

The Fostering Services Regulations (2011) state foster parents can only be approved by one agency at a time.

A protocol for the transfer of foster parents between agencies has been agreed between The Fostering Network, the Joint Forum of Independent Providers and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.

The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol (2014) (reviewed 2019) is designed to guarantee that each child either remains unaffected or will receive greater benefit when a foster parent chooses to transfer to a different agency. We fully support and subscribe to this Protocol.

A protocol meeting is held to ensure that transfers between fostering agencies are carried out in a way that will not impact the child in their foster home. Any children you are looking after will therefore transfer with you to your new approving agency, where it is in their best interest.